Peter Scott, a director of Teesside-based recycling experts Scott Bros said that while he welcomed the government’s focus on fly tipping as part of its general crackdown on anti-social behaviour, he believes it is likely to be ineffectual without enforcement.
He said: “Those dumping rubbish or fly tipping are to be targeted with ‘hot spot’ policing and ‘short and sharp’ punishments, but it all depends upon the government’s definition of what is a hot spot as, by its very nature fly-tipping, is often random and unpredictable.
“It can be carried out anywhere at any time, from lay-bys, farmers’ fields, back alleys, public spaces or, in our case, remediated land. The real answer is more investment to provide a concerted effort to stop individuals or ‘white van cowboys’ from simply dumping household and commercial waste rather than disposing of it in a responsible and environmentally-friendly way..
“Those caught fly tipping already face serious penalties, up to five years in prison or an unlimited fine, which doesn’t seem to act as a deterrent – largely because they believe they can get away with it.”